The top 10 goal scorers of all-time in the National Hockey League mostly existed in the 1970’s and 1980’s. With the 1970’s came the increased game schedule and the dawn of the offensive era. With the exception of the top two goal scorers in the history of the NHL, most of the rookie hockey cards of the others in the top 10 can be head for relatively little money. As can be expected, all ten players are enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
From the bottom up:
10. Luc Robitaille – 668 goals. Rookie Card – 1987-88 O-Pee-Chee #42, valued at $30. Lucky Luc played in the NHL from 1986-87 to 2005-06 with the Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings. Robitaille entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.
9. Mario Lemieux – 690 goals. Rookie Card – 1985-86 O-Pee-Chee #9, valued at $200. Super Mario played in the NHL from 1984-85 to 2005-06, all with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Mario was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997 after his first retirement from the game.
8. Steve Yzerman – 692 goals. Rookie Card – 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee #67, valued at $100. Stevie-Y played his entire NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings from 1983-84 to 2005-06. Like Luc Robitaille, Yzerman was Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2009.
7. Mark Messier – 694 goals. Rookie Card – 1980-81 O-Pee-Chee #289, valued at $100. The Moose played in the NHL from 1979-80 to 2003-04 with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks. Mark entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.
6. Mike Gartner – 708 goals. Rookie Card – 1980-81 O-Pee-Chee #195, valued at $40. Gartner played in the NHL from 1979-80 to 1997-98 with the Washington Capitals, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Phoenix Coyotes. Mike was inducted into the Hall in 2001.
5. Phil Esposito – 717 goals. Rookie Card – 1965-66 Topps #116, valued at $400. Esposito played in the NHL from 1963-64 to 1980-81 with the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. Phil became a member of the Hall of Fame in 1984.
4. Marcel Dionne– 731 goals. Rookie Card – 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee #133, valued at $150. Dionne played in the NHL from 1971-72 to 1988-89 with
the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers. Marcel entered the Hall in 1992.
3. Brett Hull – 741 goals. Rookie Card – 1988-89 O-Pee-Chee #66, valued at $50. The Golden Brett played in the NHL from 1986-87 to 2005-06 with the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings and Phoenix Coyotes. He was inducted, along with Yzerman and Robitaille, in 2009.
2. Gordie Howe – 801 goals. Rookie Card – 1951-52 Parkhurst #66, valued at $3000. Mr. Hockey played in the NHL from 1946-47 to 1970-71, all with Detroit. He returned for a season with the Hartford Whalers in 1979-80. Howe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 after his first retirement from hockey.
1. Wayne Gretzky – 894 goals. Rookie Card – 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee #18, valued at $800. The Great One played in the NHL from 1979-80 to 1998-99 with the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers. Gretzky entered the Hall of Fame in 1999.